Posted on 06/18/2003 4:21:20 AM PDT by csvset
Dancer's death earns man 10 years
By DAVID GRIMES
for The Hawk Eye
MONMOUTH, Ill. — A Galesburg, Ill., man responsible for a deadly highway crash a year and a half ago received a 10–year prison sentence Monday from Judge Greg McClintock in Warren County Circuit Court.
McClintock found Sonny Morris El, 32, guilty of aggravated DUI, cannabis, during the defendant's bench trial May 9.
Morris El and Kristina Valerio, 25, an exotic dancer at a Gulfport, Ill., nightclub, were headed east on U.S. 34 just west of Monmouth in the early morning hours of Jan. 17, 2002.
As a semi approached in the westbound lane, Morris El's 1990 Chevrolet Caprice crossed the center line.
Morris El was determined to be the driver. Valerio was impaled on the steering wheel, facing the back of the car and died at the scene of head trauma when she slammed through the windshield.
The defendant was found lying in a fetal position and unconscious in the center of the highway.
"I would have liked to seen him get more (time)," said Valerio's mother, Sue Christensen of Seaton, Ill. "My daughter's dead and it's not fair."
Christensen also said Morris El was not her daughter's boyfriend. "He wouldn't have been her type," she said.
Morris El was in a vegetative state in a Peoria hospital until April, when he was moved to a nursing home for rehabilitation. He was released from the facility's care in November and returned to Galesburg.
The Warren County State's Attorney's office learned that Morris El was in the area only after they found out he was facing charges of battery and firearm possession by a felon. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he has been in the Warren County jail since.
Public Defender Scott Shipplett questioned Lori Akers, one of Morris El's former girlfriends and mother to two of his five children, during mitigation.
Akers remembered Morris El as being self–centered and arrogant prior to the accident, but loving and caring toward her two children since returning home.
Shipplett said Morris El was not likely to repeat his criminal activity, but, in fact, was a good candidate for rehabilitation, in light of his attitude and personality change.
Speaking on his own behalf, Morris El referred to his actions as "foolish," adding, "There's nothing I can say ... to replace my good friend. Because of me, my friend is gone ..."
The defense recommended a sentence of 180 days probation.
But Warren County State's Attorney Albert Algren asked McClintock to impose the maximum sentence of 12 years imprisonment, describing Morris El as "someone who does what he wants when he wants to do it."
Prior to sentencing, McClintock said he had searched for reasons to consider probation and the opportunity for continued rehabilitation for the defendant, but had come up empty, noting that he, too, recalled Morris El's demeanor prior to the accident.
The two had met on occasion in court in Knox County with respect to other cases Morris El was involved in and the judge said he also had found Morris El to be arrogant and self–centered.
From the time Morris El had his first brush with the law at age 17 involving a battery charge until the present, McClintock said, "there are no years that you were not convicted of criminal activity."
In addition to the 10–year prison sentence, McClintock ordered him to pay restitution to the victim's family for the amount of funeral expenses.
Morris El has 30 days to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Guess again mom.
I wish we could all put this stupid little euphemism to rest. Is there really anything "exotic" about watching a girl from Illinois swing around a pole?
She's a stripper!
The ultimate crime against The State.
Sounds like an air-head was used as an air-bag.
The disclaimer, "Professional driver on closed course, don't try this at home" would have applied here.
You are soooo bad :-))
If she was facing backwards, I don't think she would have seen the truck anyway....
So, when Morris said, "A little to the right, he meant ... aw never mind..
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